Sweeney, Michael (1828-1888)

SWEENEY, CARMODY

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 5/12/2023 at 16:17:25

Webster City Freeman
Webster City, Iowa
Wednesday, May 16, 1888

MICHAEL SWEENEY DEAD

This community was shook from center to circumference last Saturday forenoon by the report that the dead body of Michael Sweeney had been found in the road about two miles north of this city! About 11 o'clock the truth of the startling report was confirmed by the bringing of the inanimate body to town by W.W. Boak and N.L. Maxon. The facts in the case, as near as can be ascertained, are these: About half-past 7 in the morning, Mr. Sweeney, after eating a hearty breakfast, left for a walk to a piece of land that he was arranging to have fenced near the farm of C.A. Howd. It was the almost daily custom of Mr. Sweeney when the weather would permit, to take a stroll into the country, and those in and near the city who met "Mike" on this Saturday morning little dreamed that he was taking his last walk! But so it proved. His route was north over the Des Moines street bridge; thence across the bridge near Hon. Chas. Aldrich's place, thence north again in the direction of W.W. Boak's. He was last seen alive by Mrs. J.V. Motheral, the wife of the man who lives on what is generally known as the old McKowan place.

A few rods north of this place - about one-third of the distance between the McKowan farm and the old Fowler place, now owned and occupied by N.L. Maxon - the body was discovered by Mr. Maxon, who, with his son, was working in a field a few rods from the road. While looking at an object lying by the roadside near the wire fence, (which he at first supposed to be a colt), Mr. M. observed a hat moving along the ground by the force of the wind, and at once went to the spot to investigate the matter. On reaching the place he beheld the prostrate and lifeless body of Michael Sweeney! The body was yet warm, but the heart had ceased to beat - the vital spark had died. Calling his son, Mr. Maxon at once sent him to notify Mr. Boak and the neighbors. This was about 9 o'clock, or not over one and a half hours from the time Mr. Sweeney had left the breakfast table of Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Thompson, with whom he had made his home when in Webster City for the past twelve or fifteen years. And it is certain Mr. S. had been dead but ten or fifteen minutes at the time the body was discovered by Mr. Maxon. He was lying prone on his back, with the head to the south - having fallen backwards. There was no evidence of the slightest struggle or convulsion, and it is supposed that death was instantaneous. It is not known that he was predisposed to heart disease, but the sudden manner of his taking off seems to fully establish the theory that his death was the result of heart ailment or apoplexy. The body was brought to town by Messrs. Boak and Maxon, and taken to the residence of Mr. Thompson, where an inquest was held by Justice Currie, and a verdict rendered in accordance with the foregoing facts.

Michael Sweeney came to Webster City, from Kentucky, in the spring of 1855, and lived here continuously (except during the past four or five years when he was temporarily absent for a few months at a time) until the day of his death. He was born in Ireland in 1828, and came to the United States when about 18 years of age. A part of the first year after leaving Ireland was spent on a farm in New Hampshire. Then he went to Richmond, Va., where for several years he worked in a distillery. His sound judgement and resolute will, which have always been prominent traits of his character, were here displayed. Liquor was kept where the workingmen were free to help themselves. Mr. Sweeney soon discovered that he was acquiring an appetite for liquor, and felt that its continued use - which was as free as water - would lead to but one result, summed up in the word drunkard. He decided at once, as a rule of his life, not to thereafter touch a drop of intoxicating liquor. His fellow workmen said he must drink or leave, and he informed them that when such an alternative presented itself leave it would be, but that the proprietor would have to say whether it was leave or stay. The proprietor said stay, and soon thereafter promoted him to one of the most responsible positions in the business. From Richmond he went to Covington, Ky., where he remained two or three years, and then came to Hamilton county - where he invested a large part of his savings in land. Mr. Sweeney was one of the volunteers from this county in the memorable Spirit Lake expedition, the story of which was so recently told to us. He was about 27 years of age when he came here, and for the first four years he worked by the month, most of the time for W.C. and S. Willson. When these gentlemen built the steam grist and saw-mill in the west end of the town, in 1860, Mr. Sweeney became a partner, and it was here he met with the accident that deprived him of his left hand. This occurred only a few months after the mill had been put into operation. In 1861 Mr. Sweeney was elected sheriff of the county, which position he held four years. He was then appointed clerk of the courts, to succeed J.M. Jones, who went into the army as paymaster, and in this capacity served the people most acceptably for eight years. And it may be said in this connection that no man ever served a people more faithfully and conscientiously than did "Mike" Sweeney during these twelve years. There never was a whisper against his integrity, honesty or uprightness of character, and no man in Hamilton county ever did, or ever can, have a more unsullied name than that of Michael Sweeney. His thorough devotion to his official duties, and his scrupulous care of the public interests, (as old settlers will tell you), saved thousands of dollars to the tax-payers of the county. It was during the years when he was acting as a public official that he laid the foundation of the ample fortune that he possessed at the time of his death, which is variously estimated at from $60,000 to $100,000 - consisting of real estate, money, bonds and mining stock. It has not yet been ascertained whether or not he had made a will, but his most intimate friends here are of the opinion that he did not. He was careful, methodical and scrupulously honest in all his transactions; economical and frugal in habits, and always ready to help those who endeavored to help themselves. He died without an enemy, and many men in Hamilton county who are now comfortably fixed, declare they owe their success to favors and good counsel of Michael Sweeney. He was generally known throughout the county as any man in it, and was universally esteemed as a man could be. The only relatives he is known here to have in this country are a cousin and her two sons and two daughters, who are residents of Chicago. One of the sons, Jeremiah Carmody, was engaged in the butter and egg business in Webster City some eight or nine years ago, as will be remembered by some of our citizens. But he returned to Chicago from this city, where he still resides.

The funeral services, which were very appropriately and impressively conducted by the Rev. L.N. Call, were largely attended, among those present being many from various portions of the county, as well as a few from Wright and Webster counties. The Rev. Wm. Harvey, who is an old-time friend of the deceased, was invited to be present at the burial ceremonies, but through some mishap was unable to do so. The pall-bearers, selected from those who were among his earliest friends and acquaintances in the county, were D.D. Chase, Sam'l Baxter, H.C. Hillock, Chas. Aldrich, Jacob M. Funk, John N. Maxwell, W.B. Howard and B.S. Mason. Mr. Carmody, of Chicago, was the only relative of the deceased present.

Among those who so deeply and sincerely regret the death of this most excellent man, citizen and friend, none will feel the loss more keenly than Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Thompson, who have regarded him almost with the affection of a brother, and whose considerate kindness was often the subject of remark by the deceased. Mr. Sweeney possessed a rare power of discernment, extraordinary judgment, and a striking individuality, full of the proverbial wit of his nationality. Direct in his dealings and expressions, he sometimes mercilessly denounced what he regarded as shams and hypocrisy. Few men can be found who can say they did not understand what "Mike" Sweeney meant when he expressed himself upon a given subject, or what position he occupied upon any public question. His sudden death was a great shock to his friends, and those who have known him intimately for the last twenty-five years and longer, those who have been entertained so often by his rare conversational powers, those who have known the kindness of his heart and of his love for his friends, will cherish his memory through life.